Student/Care Partner Perspective

I am a first generation college student so it is a great privilege for me to be able to say I will be graduating next semester because I did not think I would ever be able to be so close to the finish line. Being a college student already comes with its challenges but when you are taking care of a parent who is sick, it comes with more unique challenges. For example, the average college student may find no difficulty in committing their evening to studying and getting ahead of projects. In my case, my study schedule starts from 9pm and runs until I get to a good stopping point, which is usually at 2am to 3am. A day in the life of a care partner looks like going to my 9 to 5 full time job, completing assignments during my lunch break, driving an hour to get home, cook dinner for my mom who I am taking care of, then tending to her needs, getting in a quick shower, and finally completing my assignments and projects in the late evening. So, I guess you can say I have my hands full. As if I didn’t have enough work to do, I decided attending law school would be a great idea! Please don’t mistake my challenges as obstacles, but I like to view them as ways of building discipline and perseverance and with perseverance builds character. My mom used to always tell me that time waits for no one so you have to make the most out of it. Which is why I try to find time throughout the day to either go through some flashcards, or conduct research on the projects I am working on. For example, during my 15-minute break, I will take a walk or walk up and down the stairs while listening to recorded lectures. In order to maximize the time I have to study, I will put important reminders on a sticky note and stick them on my mirror and in the dashboard of my car. It’s not easy being a college student but there’s so much to gain once you finally finish. My mom has taken care of me my entire life, and through my hard work I plan to take care of her. Through this experience, I have learned the true meaning of hard work, resilience, and the power of love. Yes, it can be difficult and hard to balance, but the love and appreciation I receive make it all worth it.